Disclaimer: I do not own National Treasure, just Elizabeth and this particular plot idea.

Chapter Eight

Elizabeth sighed and set down the book she had been attempting to read. She had browsed through all the books in the room and none of them could hold her interest. Her thoughts just kept tumbling around in her empty head. She sat on the floor, her knees up to her chest as she stared out the giant bay windows.

"I, Elizabeth Chase, am fiancé to Ian Howe, who I love dearly," she said quietly.

The words took up all the space in the room and seemed so heavy, as if her body loathed saying it. She analyzed this. Did she love Ian? Why did her heart balk at the idea? She sat there analyzing every inch of her brain, heart, and soul. Something wasn't right but she couldn't put her finger on it.

"I'm so confused, I don't know if I should trust Ian. But then, why shouldn't I? Oh, I just don't know!" she muttered, frustrated to no end with herself.

She sat up quickly and paced around the room. She felt like she had to do something. Like her quest for something had been rudely interrupted. She stopped and looked at the door. Surely, it wouldn't be locked...?

She walked over to it and hesitantly turned the handle. To her elation, it wasn't locked. For some strange reason, the idea of being locked in a room terrified her to the point of insanity. She walked down the hallway quietly, hoping she wouldn't attract any attention. She passed many rooms but her feet just wandered until she was thoroughly lost. Panic began to press down upon her chest as she began to lose her calm. She felt trapped and needed to get out of the house before she burst from all the tension.

She was almost running in a blind panic when she stumbled upon the main hallway. She collected herself and walked as confidently as she could across the large room. There was no one impeding her way but at any time that could change. It was strange, she wasn't being held captive and yet she felt the need to sneak around.

Elizabeth ripped open the doors and ran out into the glorious sunlight. She smiled and did a small twirl of excitement as the wide blue skies alleviated all of her worries. She meandered down to the beach, which was a fair distance from the wharf. There she sat down in the sand, her knees up to her chest. She stared out to sea, pondering all the information she had been told.

It was strange, but despite the fact that what Ian had told her felt right, it still felt distorted in some ways. The man was simply an enigma. She didn't want to believe that someone would lie to her, and she couldn't remember anyone ever doing so. She knew she was vulnerable, since she couldn't remember anything from before she woke up. She simply didn't have any experience with people at this point. She desperately wished that someone would appear and she would just... just know that she could trust whatever it was he or she said.

She sighed wistfully: she would just have to be cautious around Ian. Nevertheless, she felt guilty since she really didn't think she had any reasons not to trust him. She was so confused, her brain felt so befuddled she hardly noticed anything going on around her. Even if she had been paying attention, she wouldn't have put much thought towards the small boat, very far out to sea.

It had a telescopic camera, which some men were looking through and taking detailed pictures of the coastline. The man paused when he looked through to see a blonde-haired women sitting alone on the beach. He snapped a picture, wondering if she was the woman, Elizabeth Chase, that Ian Howe had supposedly taken captive. She certainly looked pensive and scared enough to be her. He watched, fascinated as a man fitting Howe's description came and began talking to her, eventually leading her away and up to the house.

"It looks like her spirit's been broken," the man mumbled.
"What was that?" his coworker asked.
"Ah... nothing..."

However, the man was right, her spirit was broken.

When Ian approached Elizabeth, she startled as though he were going to hurt her. "How are you doing Elizabeth?" he asked softly.
"I-I'm doing well. Just thinking," she said quietly, feeling guilty for doubting him.
"Do you want to come in for dinner?" he asked.
"That would be lovely," she said smiling, looking at him for the first time.

He gently helped her up and led her back to the house, his fingers intertwining with hers. Inwardly he smirked: it was all going perfectly to plan.

___

Abigail, Ben, and Riley all sat around Abigail's kitchen table, waiting for any news from the reconnaissance team that had set out to get pictures of Ian's hideout. They all hoped that at least one might contain a snapshot of Elizabeth.

An FBI agent suddenly came bustling into the room and handed Agent Sadusky a large envelope. He nodded his thanks and quickly took out its contents, scanning each one. Most he gave to another agent, but three he set aside. The three friends were practically dying with nervousness. He pored over the three photos for a minute and then spoke.

"Here," he murmured quietly, setting one snapshot down.

It was a young woman sitting on a beach with her knees drawn up to her chest. Abigail gasped: there was no doubt about it her baby sister was alive! She slumped back in her chair and squeezed Ben's hand. He let loose a large sigh of relief. Elizabeth was alive! Riley grinned from ear to ear. She was all right and soon he could hold her in his arms again.

Agent Sadusky placed a second photo on the table and they all drank it in, eager for any news of their missing friend. Elizabeth was now conversing with Ian as if it was a normal and acceptable thing to do! They were all stumped and feared for the younger Chase sister.

He placed down the last picture, which in his opinion was the most telling. Elizabeth was being led by Ian, with their hands intertwined. Her head was bent forward as if she had a great burden on her shoulders. Her spirit did in fact seem broken, whether she knew it or not.

Riley was incensed and hurt. He loved Elizabeth and he knew that she loved him too. So, what was this all about?! She hated Ian! As he stared harder and harder at the picture, all he could conclude was that is was like the lion leading the lamb to the slaughter. Ian had done something to her and by god, Riley would do whatever was necessary to fix her.

Sorry this took awhile to get out. I've been so bogged down with schoolwork. I know, every other author has pulled that. But I'm back in the mood of writing/editing so you should see some more updates. Just a note, if you go to my profile, there's some links there for banners that people made me from Quizilla. I thought you guys might want to see them. Thanks for everyone who reads and reviews!

Aly